The greatest gift we can give ourselves and those around us is to be present and to connect.

In contrast, this time of the year drives us to get busy, do more and go faster, often making it more difficult to connect with those around us. Ironically, the original impetus and meaning for Christmas is all about our connections and our humanity.

This Christmas (now!) I am prioritising first being present for myself and my family and those around me. It does feel like a gift to give myself this time. Goethe’s words on my fridge magnet remind me that “nothing is more important than this day”.

I love unwrapping presents, I know few people who don’t. Unfortunately most of us, me included, get caught up in all the hard work in preparation, for three hours of manic unwrapping on Christmas morning and then it is all finished. What would it be like if we could unwrap our presence throughout the festive season in all we do?

If we go back to the origins of this gift-giving tradition, it wouldn’t be the same story if the three wise men had sent gold, frankincense and myrrh by courier! What was special was that they made a long journey to be present.

Unwrapping presence is a process, an unfolding. Sometimes it’s a real surprise what is inside, even to yourself. Sometimes it takes time to unwrap, it may even appear like nothing is happening. But giving time to being present has the potential to make everything in our lives better. In and beyond the festive season, whatever we’re doing, whether it’s a HANDLE activity like Hug and Tug or preparing a meal, the impact of our offering is magnified many times when we unwrap our presence.

We look forward to connecting with you again in 2019. Happy unwrapping!

We had a great webinar this week with people who have done our HANDLE® Level 1 and 2 Course on the subject of ‘Slower is Faster’. From the feedback we’ve had people found the ideas very helpful and we even got to do some practice of feeling the impact of doing something slowly.

We discussed how doing HANDLE Activities slowly can help calm our brains and the branch of the autonomic nervous system that is triggered when we are stressed. It can create a moment of mindfulness to balance the busyness of everyday life.

The other benefit of SLOW is that it enables us (and the other person if we are doing an Activity together) to pay more attention to what is happening, both in ourselves and around us. Research is showing how when we do things with attention the learning is dramatically accelerated and we are less likely to remain stuck in our habits.

Here is an activity for you to feel the value of slow in your life. It only takes 5-10 minutes, doing something you would already be doing anyway. Choose something you enjoy doing like drinking tea, bathing, going for a walk or cooking, and do it very slowly. Give yourself the time to really be present with what you are doing and enjoy the experience. Notice how it feels in yourself, for example the warm feeling of the mug in your hands, the sensation of your feet contacting the ground as you walk, the smell of something you are cooking. Allow yourself to luxuriate in the sensations that are always there if only we’d notice them. This time is 100% yours. Switch off mobiles or other distracting devices and rest back in being present with what you are doing for just these moments. You don’t need to do everything slowly, just 5-10 minutes. When you go back to moving at everyday speed, notice what feels different.

When I did this on a daily basis it dramatically changed the whole of my day. I approached what I was doing with more energy and alertness. I’d love to hear if it makes a difference for you.

Sean

Snailspace art trail in Brighton this autumn reminding us to cherish ‘life in the slow lane’ #BeMoreSnail

We’re starting a new series, reviewing books that we think are worth taking a look at.

First up, “What Great Parents Do” by Erica Reischer. I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book. I first picked it up from the library shelf with a kind of disdainful curiosity based on the title, but I soon discovered that Erica Reischer was not, as I’d thought, contributing to the culture of pressure to be a ‘perfect parent’ (Tip #12 “Great Parents aren’t perfect”) but instead offering a framework for cultivating a respectful and joyful relationship with your children.

The book is designed as a practical manual- it’s very readable, concise and clear. Each of the 75 tips is numbered and briefly described, then followed by a suggestion of how to implement it. Other related strategies are then cross-referenced. It makes it extremely easy to dip in and get some instant support or inspiration without having to wade through long chapters or lots of details.

Overall the guidance is sound, research-based and feels do-able. The heart of the philosophy guiding the book is the importance of cultivating “non-judgemental awareness- of yourself, of others (such as your family), and of the moment”. The key principles are Acceptance, Boundaries and Consistency. The tips outlined are tangible ways of putting all this into practice.

The tips themselves cover things like empathy (“If you don’t know what else to do, try empathy”); paying attention (“if we don’t notice what is happening, we can do little to change it”); avoiding reward economies; and very specific tips like avoiding saying “but”, and pivoting (“the art of saying yes instead of no, and meaning the same thing.”) Much of what she talks about isn’t new but I find reminders helpful, and bringing more awareness to what you’re already doing can help it all happen more smoothly and confidently. Otherwise the book is so succinct that if a section feels like old news you can just move onto another tip for some fresh inspiration.

This book comes recommended for people interested in caring for children with acceptance and awareness, but who don’t necessarily have time to read more than the odd few pages here and there.

Downsides: I’d have liked it if sometimes the cross-referencing had titles instead of just a number as it can get a bit distracting, at the same time it all helps to keep the book more concise. I’d also still lose the judgemental/labelling language from the title! But then I am a HANDLE provider…

Brighton Learning House is a unique organisation running training courses and a clinic providing HANDLE and Feldenkrais services to adults and children. We are based in Hollingbury, Brighton.

We are looking for someone to join our small team part-time with the skills to liaise with our clients and students in a warm and open, efficient and organised way.

Our work is about enhancing people’s lives and helping them to do the things they want to do with more ease. We strive to apply the same principles to our own working lives and are keen for employees to find real meaning in their work and have the chance to be innovative and creative within their role.

Due to a cancellation, we have last-minute availability for one child to have a HANDLE Assessment on Saturday morning 11th March and HANDLE Presentation on Sunday morning 12th March, for just £150 (the usual price of this package with Sean Williams would be over £550). Both sessions will take place in Hove, within walking distance of Hove railway station.

We are particularly looking for children of any age and ability for whom a play-based Assessment would be most suitable. The HANDLE Assessment is suitable for anyone who wants to find out more about how they are functioning and what they can do to find the things they want to do easier. You will receive a unique neurodevelopmental profile for your child and a HANDLE programme of activities tailored to your child's personal goals. All sessions are supervised by a certified HANDLE Practitioner and you need to be available to attend both sessions.

If you can't make it this month, we will be running a number of HANDLE Practitioner Intern training sessions throughout 2017 and are looking for participants interested in taking part in cut-price Assessments and Presentations as part of this.

If you are interested in taking part this month or later in the year please email sarah@seanwilliams.co.uk and include a daytime phone number in your message.

There is a rare opportunity coming up to participate in UK workshops with the founder of Original Play, O. Fred Donaldson in Lewes, Sussex. We are not running these events ourselves but we can't recommend them highly enough!

Sean and Sarah both took part in these experiential workshops last time Fred was teaching in the UK and found the weekend to be a profound and enriching experience, which taught tangible tools and ideas for playing and connecting with others of all ages. Here is a leaflet with all the information you need.

Sean Williams is teaching a series of four Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons in Hove in Spring 2017. Classes take place lying on a mat on the floor (provided), or sometimes sitting/standing. You can find more information about Feldenkrais and ATM classes here.

Dates and times to be confirmed- please register your interest below if you would like to attend.

As part of our latest HANDLE Practitioner training course we are offering low cost Assessments and Presentations with a HANDLE Intern working under supervision from a certified HANDLE Practitioner, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd October 2016 in Brighton, UK.

The cost will be £150 for both a full Assessment and Presentation of results which take place on separate days- either 2 morning appointments on Saturday and Sunday, OR two afternoon appointments on Sunday and Monday. Each appointment lasts 2-3 hours. The usual cost of the same appointments at Brighton Learning House would be £550, so this is a huge saving!

The HANDLE Assessment is suitable for anyone who wants to find out more about how they are functioning and what they can do to find the things they want to do easier. You will receive a unique neurodevelopmental profile and a HANDLE programme of activities tailored to your own personal goals.

Please get in touch if you'd like to find out more, or fill in the form below to book your place.

All European HANDLE Affiliates are warmly invited to join us for the 2016 HANDLE Europe Gathering which will be in Brighton from Friday 14th - Sunday 16th October.

Our focus will be on enriching our practice and growing as individuals and as a community.

This gathering will be a time to connect with others and to share learning, questions and insight. We will have a practical focus and will generate new learning that we can take home to our lives and work. This weekend is about identifying and creating what we need to take our next steps in our development as Practitioners and Screeners and as a community of HANDLE providers, with a particular focus on how we can create more enjoyable, successful and fulfilling practices for ourselves.

It will be a practical and inspiring weekend with plenty of time for play, connecting and enjoying being together.

Please see the schedule here for more information about what we’ll be doing. Breakfast and lunches will be provided, and an evening meal on Friday 14th. For evening meals on other days there are a wealth of places to eat out and buy food in the nearby area to suit all budgets, and self catering facilities are available if you wish.

Our venue is Vine Street Studios, which is situated in the heart of Brighton's vibrant North Laine district and is a short walking distance from Brighton railway station. Brighton station is just an hour from London Bridge and London Victoria stations by train, and just 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport. The Gathering costs £225 with 3 nights accommodation (£350 for a single room) and £100 non-residential. There are limited spaces (particularly non-residential) so please register as soon as possible.

Shifting your Focus with Roger Russell:-How we can use attention to shift from habitual patterns to create new learning-The neuro-physiology behind Gentle Enhancement-How we can help the nervous system to learn new habits around stress

Roger Russell works as a senior Feldenkrais trainer, an approach which works, like HANDLE, to support learning and organisation of the nervous system through movement. He was trained by the founder Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais and graduated in 1977. Roger is a founding sponsor of the Feldenkrais Science Network and has been active in research projects on the movement development of children and multiple sclerosis, as well as authoring several books and articles.

He is an exceptional and engaging presenter who brings clear understanding through direct experience of the ideas he teaches. He has agreed to create a special presentation specifically for our HANDLE community that he will deliver online in the morning from his office in Heidelberg, Germany. The workshop will continue with discussion and experiential application of Roger’s teaching with HANDLE Activities in an afternoon session facilitated by Sean Williams.

REGISTER FOR Gathering and workshop HERE

HANDLE Europe Affiliates Gathering

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Best phone number to contact you on *

Booking for Gathering *

Prices include Friday night meal and lunches Saturday and Sunday. Accommodation is for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

With Accommodation- room shared with 1 other-MALE ONLY remaining (£225)

Without Accommodation (£100)

I plan to attend: *

Please check every option that applies to you.

Friday evening

Friday evening overnight

Saturday daytime

Saturday evening overnight

Sunday daytime

Sunday evening overnight

I would also like to book

Please check all that apply. Workshop includes lunch

Monday workshop with Roger Russell £65

Monday evening accommodation £35

Total cost

Please make your payment directly into Account Name: Brighton Learning House Ltd, Sort Code: 16-58-10, Account no: 20620705. If you are asked to give a reference please use your name. Please email sarah@seanwilliams.co.uk if you need international banking details.

£

Dietary requirements *

No requirements

Vegetarian

Vegan

Other

If other please specify:

Please use this space to let us know about any needs you have which you would like to be considered while attending this Gathering

The HANDLE Screening is designed to identify some of these possible causes through a short series of activities and questions. The Screener then presents their findings and devises an individualised programme of HANDLE Activities to help address issues and promote wellbeing.

Following our popular half price Screening offer we are currently offering 30% off HANDLE® Screening Packs and Review Packs with certified HANDLE Screener and Practitioner trainee Sarah Hill. Sarah has worked alongside Sean Williams supporting his HANDLE training courses and clinics since 2008 whilst also working on home-based play programmes and in specialist schools and colleges. She has been a full time member of the Brighton Learning House team since 2013.

Screening Packs include: Screening (1 hour) and Presentation (2 hours) followed by a 1 hour Activity Check appointment, and are reduced from £180 to £126.

Screening Review Packs include 1.5 hour Reviews every 6 weeks OR 2 hour Reviews every 8 weeks, along with any email/phone support during the 6 month period, and are reduced from £300 to £210.

These prices are available for a limited time, so register soon to book your place, or to find out more details.